Method of making and delivering gas.



No. 784,870. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905. B. LOOMIS & H. PETTIBONE.

METHOD OF MAKING AND DELIVERING GAS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4, 1904.

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No. 784,870. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905. B. LOOMIS & H. PETTIBONE.

METHOD OF MAKING AND DELIVERING GAS. APPLICATION FILED MBA. 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

No. 784,870. PATENTED MAR. 14, 1905.

B. LOOMIS & H. PETTIBONB.

METHOD OF MAKING ANDDELIVERING GAS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-4, 1904.

4 SHEETSSHEET- &.

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g UNITED STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

BURDETT LOOMIS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, AND HAIVLEY PETTI- BONE, OF NEWV ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO POIVER AND MINING MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEIV YORK.

METHOD OF MAKING AND DELIVERING GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,870, dated March 14, 1905.

I Application filed February 4, 190 2. Serial Ne 192,035.

To It whom if; vnwy concur/t:

Be it known that we, Bnnnn'r'r LooMIs, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, and HAWLEY PETTI- BONE, residing at New Rochelle, in the county of \Vestchester and State of New York, citizens of the United States, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making and Delivering Gas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the method of making and delivering motive-power gas to gasengines.

The object of our invention is to make and deliver a continuous and uniform volume of combustible gas to a gas-engine and in such operation keep the generator-fires open and freely permeable to vapors, aeriform and gaseous fluids, so as to maintain the quality or calorific value and volume of gas delivered.

A special object of our invention is to utilize the spent exhaust-gases from the engine under the pressure and impulses due to explosion for blowing ashes and fine carbon out of the interstices of the beds of fuel in the generating-chambers and at the same time convert such spent gases into combustible gas by passage in contact with incandescent fuel. 7

In the operation of making gas by passage of air or a mixture of air and steam down through a body of fuel the interstices between the lumps of coal or coke become plugged with ashes and fine carbon, so that the passage of aeriform or gaseous fluids is greatly impeded, and consequently the make of gas cor- This is very objectionable where gas is delivered directly to an explosion-engine, in which a constantly-maintained volume of gas is required.

By our improvements in the method of conducting the ope-ration we overcome the abovementioned difficulty and obtain greatly-improved results.

We will now describe a suitable apparatus for carrying out our method of making and delivering gas by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the one of them in vertical section.

apparatus with parts broken away. 2. represents aside elevation lookingfrom the left-hand side. Fig. 3 represents a rear elevation of the three connected generators with Fig. A represents a top plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 5 represents a front elevation of a modification of the apparatus.

The gas-generating part of our apparatus preferably comprises three cupola generating-furnaces A, B, and C, which are connected at the top by pipes D and D, having valves (Z, d, and d, as shown in Figs. 3 and A. The valves (Z and d are placed in the pipe I), and the valve d is placed in the pipe D, which connects the top of generator B with pipe D between valves (Z and (Z. By means of these pipes and valves any two of the generators may be put into communicatioi'i at the top, while any one of them maybe shut out of communication, or all three of them may be put into communication at the top. The three generators are also connected at the bottom or ash-pits by pipes E and E; having valves e, e, and e", the pipe E being connected with the base of generator B and with pipe E between its valves 2 and (1. The ga's-take-off pipe also connects with pipe E and with the base of the tubular steam-boiler F, as shown in Fig. 4. By means of these pipe and valve connections any two of the generators may be put into communication, while any one of them is shut out of communication with the gas-outlet pipe E, loading to boiler F. It will be apparent, therefore, that any one of the three generators may be cut out for cleaning or repairs while the gas-making operation is actively continued in the other two. The provision of this capacity to deliver a continuous flow of gas is very 1mportant where gas is supplied directly to a gasengine. This will be better appreciated when it is understood that gas-engines ranging from one hundred to six hundred horse-power are now used for driving the machinery of a mill or for driving electric generators which furnish the required motive power.

The generators are constructed with iron gas-chambers at top and bottom, such as shown shells and brick linings in the usual manner and provided at the top with fuel-supply openings and lids :r and at the bottom with arched lire-brick grates 6 and ash-pits X, as shown in Fig. 3. Steam-supply pipes S, having valves s, connect with the ash-pits. Similar steam-supply pipes S and valves s may also connect with the tops of the generators.

The tubularboiler F is constructed with at f in Fig. 1, and has a gas-outlet pipe f, connecting with the top chamber and with the lower end of the wet scrubber Gr, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.- A gas-outlet pipe g connects with the top of scrubber G- and with the bottom of the dry scrubber H and is provided with a valve 7, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The gas-outlet pipe /1/ leads from the top of scrubber H and connects by a branch 71/ with the governor I. and farther on connects by a T-coupling with the gas-inlet pipes Z l of the two-cylinder gas-engine K K. (Shown in outline in Fig. a.) In connection with the engine are shown the crank-shaft Z, crank 11, and belt or H y wheel Z'. The exhaust-pipe H for spent gaseous products leads from the engine and connects by branch pipes 1mm, and m", having valves 1/, '11 and a, with the ash-pits of the three generators. An exlnuist-pipe 0, having a valve 0, also connects with pipe M and leads to the open air.

ln manufacturing and delivering gas all three of the cupola generating-furnaces may be used at the same time, and we preferably so use them except when it is necessary to shut one oil by closing the valves of its gasconnecting pipes for drawing the fire or thoroughly cleaning it of ash and clinker. After a run of three to live days it is necessary to clean out all accumulation of ashcsand clinker, and. for this purpose we take out the lower strata of the lire, breaking the remaining body of fuel down on the grate. After cleaning out the ash-pit we supply coal to the generator through the top opening (6 and again put the generator into operation by opening the connecting-valves. Under modern conditions in which a gas-engine is relied on for motive power the operation of cleaning the [ire would necessitate the stoppage of the machinery of the mill or the use of a large and expensive gas-holder or the provision of an extra set of idle generators, either of which provisions wouldin many cases involve a prohibitive expense for generating plant. \Ve have therefore aimed to simplify the conditions and provide an economical apparatus which can with advantage be installed in small manufacturing plants or ore-reducing works.

Fires are kindled on the grates of the three generators, gradually supplied with coal or coke, and allowed to burn by natural draft till deep bodies of incandescent fuel are formed. The generation and delivery of gas to the engine may now be conducted as follows: The

top lid :r of the generator A is closed, while the top lids of generators B and C are left I 1 t f partly open. The upper valves (Z, -(Z, and (l are opened and the lower valve 0 1S closed. Steam is now admitted to the base or generatorA and decomposed by passage up through the incandescent fuel therein, and the resulting water-gas passes through pipes D and D and thence down into the bodies of incandescent fuel in generators B and C. Small quantities of air are admitted through the top openings of generators B and C for making the desired percentage of producer-gas to mix with the water-gas in generators B and C. The gas-engine is started and at first operated by any suitable auxiliary power, so as to draw into it charges of gas and air, which are ignited, resulting in explosive combustion. The operation of the engine having been established by means of explosive charges, air and water-gas will be drawn into generators B and C, and gas of the desired calorific value will be drawn off through pipe E the boiler, and scrubbers into the engine.

hen the fuel in generator A becomes deadened and cooled below the proper temperature for decomposing steam, the steam is shut off therefrom and admitted to the base of generator B. The top lid a: of generator B will now be closed and the lids of generators A and 0 opened. The lower valve (2" will be closed and valve 6 opened. \Vater-gas will now pass from the top of generator B down through generators A and C and thence off by pipe E and the connections to the gas-engine. By a proper shifting of the top lids and the valves, as above indicated, steam may be admitted to the base of generator U and the resulting water-gas, together with air, passed down through the generators A and B.

By the passage of gases downward the fires will in time become plugged With ashes and fine carbon and the make of gas greatly impeded and an insuflieient supply delivered to the engine. In order to overcome or prevent this difliculty, we admit exhaust-combustion products under pressure and impulse from the engine directly into the base of the generator in which the fire is plugged. If, for

instance, it is desired to open the fire and clean the fuel of ashes in generator C, the lid :1; and lower valve 6 are closed and valve 71. in branch pipe 1/ is opened. The engine will now discharge its exhaust-gases under the pressure of about twenty pounds to the square inch and in impulses into the base of the body of fuel in generator (1, thereby blowing ashes and line carbon out of the interstices between lumps of coal or coke. This operation will be repeated as required in connection with any one of the generators. hen the combustion-gases from the engine are thus admitted to any one of the generators, the steam may at that time be shut oil, and the spent gases containing water-vapor and IIO carbonic acid will be converted into combustible gas containing valuable percentages of hydrogen and carbon monoxid. After the operation has been well started steam may be shut off and all or most of the spent gases discharged from the engine into one of the generators at a time. It is to be borne in mind that at the time exhaust-gases are admitted to the base of one generator air is admitted to the top of the con nectinggenerator, so that combustion and heat of the fuel will be maintained for the continuous generation and delivery of gases. The gases generated in one body of fuel will be fixed, cleaned, and completely converted into combustible gases by passage down through the adjacent body of fuel.

\Vhen any one of the generatorsas, for instance, generator Arequires. cleaning, the upper and lower valves, as (Z and e, in its gas inlet and outlet pipes are closed, the ash-pit and cleaning doors (not here shown) are opened, and the lower strata of fire drawn, after which clinker is cut from the walls and grate ina well-known manner. IVhile the generator A is idle, steam or exhaust-gases from the engine, or both, will be passed up through the incandescent fuel in one of the remaining pair of generators and the resulting gas passed down through the fuel of the other generator of such pair. A small quantity of air will also be admitted at the top of the second member of the pair of generators which is in operation. In the second body of fuel the heat will be maintained by combustion and carbon nionoxid produced from oxygen of the air and the gases passed over from the first body of fuel completely fixed and made combustible.

hen it is desired to clean generator B, the

valves d and a will be closed, cutting such generator out of circuit. The generators A and C will now be operated together. It being understood that fuel has been supplied to generator A, valve 0 may be left closed and valve (Z opened and steam or exhaust-gases admitted to the base of generator A. The gases risingthrough the fuel will pass through pipe I) into the top of generator C and thence down through the fuel therein and off through pipe E When it is desired to reverse the flow of gases, valve 0 will be opened and valve (2 closed, permitting gas to be made up through generator C and down through generator A. The generator C may in like manner be cut out of circuit by closing the valves d and e,

and at this time the generators A and B will be operated together for making and delivering gas to the engine.

The hot gas passed off through pipe E generates steam in the boiler and then passes into the wet scrubber G, where most of the fine dustand tarry matter which may be present is washed out and deposited. and the gas then passes into the dry scrubber H, where any remaining lampblack or tarry particles are arrested. The cooled and purified gas then passes directly to the engine K K in the most favorable condition to make explosive charges. The governor I regulates the fiow of gas and maintains a uniform pressure thereof at the engine.

In the modification of apparatus shown in Fig. 5 the gas-engine is omitted, and a rotary exhauster L is used for drawing gas off from the generators through the boiler and scrubbers and delivering it to a holder or to a place of immediate use. The gas-take-ofi' pipe Z connects with the dry scrubber H and with the top of the exhauster L. In practice a discharge-pipe will lead from the exhauster to a place of storage or use.

In order to provide for admitting an aeriform or gaseous fiuid under pressure and impulses into the bases of the generators A, B, and C for blowing ashes and fine carbon out of the interstices of the bodies of fuel, as above described, we store gas under compression in tank N, which connects, by pipe 1 and valved branch pipe on, on, and m, with the ash-pits of the generators A, B, and C. A gas-forcing pump 0 connects by pipe P with tank and is used to draw inert gas, preferably composed principally of nitrogen and carbonic acid or other aeriform fluid, from any convenient source of supply and force it under pressure into tank N. \Vhen the fire in any one of the generators becomes plugged with ashes and fine carbon, the valve in one of the inletpipes at, m, or m is suddenly opened, permitting compressed gas to rush from tank N under pressure and impulse into the generator, thereby blowing the ashes and carbon-dust from the interstices of the fuel. The body of fuel is thus made readily permeable for air, steam, and gases, which may subsequently be passed down through it in the gas-making operation. By this method of operating the generators an increased yield of gas of im proved quality is obtained and the formation of blow-holes or chimneys through the body of fuel or along the side walls is largely prevented. The valve in one of the pipes 711, w, or m, opening into a generator, may be repeatedly opened and closed at short intervals for obtaining the benefit of frequent impulses for opening and cleaning the fire.

Having described our invention, what we .claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The method of making and delivering gas which consists in generating combustible gas in a body of incandescent fuel, delivering the gas as generated to, and causing its explosive combustion in, a gas-engine and discharging the resulting gaseous products impulsively into the body of the incandescent fuel from which the gas is drawn to the engine for cleaning ashes from the interstices of the fuel and making the whole body of fuel permeable by by passing said products through both bodies of fuel.

3. The method of making and delivering gas which consists in heating two bodies of fuel to incandescence, admittingair, or air and steam, at the top of one body'of fuel. drawing gas as generated from the bottom of the same body of fuel by a gas-engine and causing its explosive combustion in said engine, and at the same time discharging the products of combustion from the engine into the other body of fuel and passing them through both bodies of fuel for converting water-vapor and carbonic acid present in the combustion products, into hydrogen and carbonic oxid and at the same time clearing ashes from the interstices between the lumps of fuel.

t. The method of generating and delivering gas which consists in heating two connecting bodies of fuel to incandescence and generating combustible gas therein, drawing gas from the base of one of the bodies of fuel by a gasengine and causing its explosive combustion in said engine, and at the same time discharging the resulting products under the impulse and pressure of explosion directly into the base of the other body of fuel and passing said products up through the same and down through the other body of fuel, and, at suitable intervals, reversing the direction of flow of said explosion products through the bodies of fuel for blowing ashes from the interstices of the fuel keeping the fires permeable to gaseous fluids.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BURDETT LOOMIS. HAVVLEY PETTIBON E.

Vitnesses:

LEWIS B. BUDD, \V. D. lVlORRIS. 

